The Importance - 1984 - West End Articles Page 9

The Original Theatre Company (OTC), under the Artistic Direction of Alastair Whatley, announces its most ambitious season yet, with an original commission (Caroline's Kitchen), a European premiere (Napoli, Brooklyn), a first revival (The Night Watch) and a 30th anniversary production and first revival (Valued Friends).

On Saturday, March 9, 2019 at 7:30pm, the curtain will rise on Rita (Two Men and a Woman) and Susanna's Secret, two one-act operas that are sure to bring a smile to the audience. The light evening of comic story lines and beautiful music is perfect for the first-time goer, while the rarity of the pairing and authenticity of the production will satisfy even the most sophisticated opera lover. A playful look at marital discord is at the heart of both Donizetti's Rita and Wolf-Ferrari's Susanna's Secret, but the conflicts resolve themselves in very different ways, both musically and dramatically. The darkly comic Rita (originally titled Two Men and a Woman) is about a mercurial and domineering woman who has re-married after mistakenly thinking her first husband has died. When he reappears unexpectedly, a showdown arises between her two husbands to decide the outcome-who has to remain married to Rita, and who gets to leave the exasperating situation. In Susanna's Secret, a jealous husband smells tobacco on his wife's clothes and is convinced that she is having an affair. He searches and searches but can't seem to catch her in the act. What could her secret be?

The Ensemble Theatre welcomes Ernestine Piña-Sandoval, Senior Director of Development & Foundations and Dr. Tiffany Bourgeois, Audience Development Director to their executive team. Each of them brings a range of skills and talents they will use to help implement the theatre's artistic vision and meet its strategic goals.

Amidst a setting of ancient times, Nabucco-king of Babylon-conquers the Hebrews, destroys their holy temple of Solomon and takes them into captivity. Meanwhile, his daughters Fenena and Abigaille both yearn for the forbidden affection of the Israelite Ismael. Her love unrequited, Abigaille is obsessed with vengeance. In the ultimate act of hubris, Nabucco declares that he is God and is struck mad by a thunderbolt. Will he regain his reason, repent, and return the Jews to their homeland?

Sarasota Opera announced its 2019-2020 Fall and Winter Festival Seasons today at a press conference held on the Sarasota Opera House main stage in Sarasota, Florida. Artistic director and principal conductor Victor DeRenzi and executive director Richard Russell presided over the event and were joined by principal artists performing selected arias from the upcoming seasons' works.

Three noble chords begin the Magic Flute, followed by a playful melody that frolics through the orchestra in one of Mozart's most popular overtures. Enchantment awaits as the noble Prince Tamino accompanied by only a magic flute and a bumbling birdcatcher is sent by the mysterious Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter, a princess held captive by a sorcerer. However, nothing is quite as it appears, and the dazzling musical adventure takes many twists and turns along its way to happily ever after. Last seen in 2010, The Magic Flute opens Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 7:30pm as the second opera in the Winter 2019 Festival.

Three riddles stand between love and death in Giacomo Puccini's last and most majestic opera, as Turandot returns to the Sarasota Opera House on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 7:00pm. The passionate tale of intrigue and mystery is based on an age-old Persian fairy tale and set in legendary Peking. The Princess Turandot, sung by Kara Shay Thomson, is so desirable that men come from all over the world to win her love, and yet underneath her royal beauty beats a cold heart, turned bitter by desire to avenge the honor of an ancestor. The fearless prince Calaf, played by tenor Jonathan Burton, takes on the challenge posed by the three questions he must answer to win her hand in marriage. If he errs, he will lose his head just like countless princes before him. Will he outwit her, or will he face a gruesome death? Soprano Anna Mandina will play the faithful Liu, a slave girl loyal to Calaf's father Timur, sung by returning Sarasota Opera favorite, bass Young Bok Kim. The most outspoken of the three royal ministers, Ping, will be sung by baritone Filippo Fontana, returning after his celebrated performance as Figaro in Fall 2018's The Barber of Seville. Stephanie Sundine is the stage director of this critically acclaimed production of Turandot, which premiered in 2013, with Maestro Victor DeRenzi conducting. Turandot is one of the grandest operas to ever play the stage of the Sarasota Opera House, with 74 performers on stage and one of the largest orchestras assembled in opera house history.

On Saturday, February 2, 2019, Sarasota Opera will present the 2019 Opera Gala "A Jeweled Affair - An Evening of Glamour and Glitz," a jewel-themed event which kicks off the 2019 Winter Opera Festival. The black-tie evening at the Ritz Carlton-Sarasota will begin with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, during which two silent auctions will take place, featuring curated jewelry from donors' private collections and a selection of exotic travel packages. After the cocktail hour, there will be a performance by Sarasota Opera principal artists, followed by a four-course dinner created by the Ritz Carlton culinary team. The ballroom will be decorated in hues of gold, with towering jewel-toned flower arrangements. After dinner, guests will light up the dance floor to the music of the Scott Blum Band. Tickets for the event are $325 per person. All proceeds benefit Sarasota Opera.

On January 6th, 2019, Yoko Shioya, Artistic Director of the Japan Society, was awarded the 2019 Bessies Presenter Award for Outstanding Curating, an annual honor bestowed by The NY Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies in recognition of achievement of the work of a presenter or curator of programming performed in the New York City area. The recipient is chosen jointly by the Bessies Selection and Bessies Steering Committees.

David R. Jimenez, President of the Board of Directors of Hartford Stage, announces that OBIE Award-winning director Melia Bensussen has been named the next Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning theatre. She will assume the role in June.

Sarasota Opera will celebrate its 60th Season when the 2019 Winter Opera Festival opens on February 9th with Puccini's Turandot. The festival will continue with Mozart's The Magic Flute, Verdi's Nabucco, and the premiere of a rare and delightful comic double bill: Donizetti's Rita (Two Men and a Woman) and Wolf-Ferrari's Susanna's Secret. Special events, lectures, recitals, and concerts continue through the season. Capping off the festivities will be the Diamond Anniversary recital and dinner on April 5th.

The Art of Alzheimer's Presents THE ARTIST WITHIN opening January 8, 2019 in Seattle City Hall's Lobby and Anne Focke Galleries. The opening reception on January 10 from 4-6pm and the exhibition that runs through March 6, 2019 are free to the public and presented in cooperation with the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and Elderwise. Care providers, artists and their families will be at the opening reception to discuss the stories behind these 49 fascinating artworks created by seven persons living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

The Art of Alzheimer's Presents THE ARTIST WITHIN opening January 8, 2019 in Seattle City Hall's Lobby and Anne Focke Galleries. The opening reception on January 10 from 4-6pm and the exhibition that runs through March 6, 2019 are free to the public and presented in cooperation with the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, and Elderwise. Care providers, artists and their families will be at the opening reception to discuss the stories behind these 49 fascinating artworks created by seven persons living with Alzheimer's and other dementias.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) opens its 2019 Stage III Series with Hand to God by Robert Askins, a dark comedy exploring the shockingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us. An Obie Award winner and five-time Tony Award nominee, including Best New Play, Hand to God was the most produced play in the 2016-17 theatrical season. Called "A darkly delightful play" by The New York Times, Hand to God is a ribald and irreverent comedy that dramatizes the fine line between good and evil.

I have been a huge fan of both Wil Love and Carl Schurr for many years. They are currently both performing in Everyman Theatre's THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST which ends its run Dec. 30, 2018. They have become two patriarchs of the Baltimore theatre scene. Since their meeting at Center Stage in 1971, they have performed, produced, and adapted hundreds of performances both regionally and nationally. Now in their 10th year as Resident Company Members at Everyman Theatre, Wil and Carl have plenty of war stories and advice to share. I connected with these two venerable performances to learn more about their story.

Do not miss this Tony-winning musical!

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce casting for the 27th annual production of A MUSICAL CHRISTMAS CAROL, December 7-23 at the Byham Theater. This year's production will feature lavish costumes and thrilling effects made possible by the support received from the Next Generation Capital Campaign. TV veteran and Broadway star Richard Thomas makes his Pittsburgh CLO debut leading the cast as Ebenezer Scrooge. Tickets are now available by calling 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or at the Theater Square Box Office.

Two heartwarming holiday specials that many of today's parents grew up with on television are making their cinematic debuts when Fathom Events and The Jim Henson Company present “Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas” and “The Bells of Fraggle Rock” on December 10 and 16 only.

The Queen's Theatre Hornchurch has today announced the cast for its revival of Alan Ayckbourn's chilling ghost story, Haunting Julia, which runs from 1 - 17 November.

Sarasota Opera will open its 11th fall season on October 26th with the return of Gioachino Rossini's comic opera The Barber of Seville, last seen in 2014. Dr. Bartolo plans to marry his ward Rosina, but she has other plans for her future. Figaro, the barber, comes to the rescue and assists Rosina in sneaking, scheming, and plotting to marry her beloved Lindoro. With a comic plot and Rossini's most recognizable melodies, The Barber of Seville is one of the most performed operas in the world. Here in Sarasota, the opera was first performed at the Historic Asolo Theater in 1963, and has been a mainstay in the repertoire over the past 60 years. 

The 32nd Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles, the largest showcase of Israeli cinema in the United States, will present from November 6th – 20th over 40 Israeli narrative films, documentaries, short films and television series as well as in-person appearances from more than 25 of today's leading Israeli filmmakers and talent. Along with hosting U.S. and west coast premiere showings, the Festival programming will include filmmaker tributes, its first ever co-presentation with the Skirball Cultural Center as well as select films reflective of both Jewish and Israeli living, the #MeToo Movement, the hip hop music scene, portraits of influential cultural leaders and sexual identity, announced Israel Film Festival Founder/Executive Director Meir Fenigstein.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announced full casting for its upcoming production of We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915 by Jackie Sibblies Drury, co-directed by Hallie Gordon and Gabrielle Randle. It's the second of SYA's 2018-19 two-play season which asks, "When You Feel Lost, How Do You Find Your Way?" The cast features Will Alan (Actor 3/Another White Man), Taylor Blim (Actor 5/Sarah), Jeffrey Owen Freelon Jr. (Actor 2/Black Man), Michael Holding (Actor 1/White Man), Daniel Kyri (Actor 3/Another Black Man) and Jennifer Latimore (Actor 6/Black Woman).

Habakkuk Theatre closes its 2018 Season with David Mamet's November, directed by Greg Kolack. The production runs October 4 - 21, 2018, at Madison Street Theatre, 1010 Madison, Oak Park, 60302. Press will be invited to attend over the course of opening weekend, October 6 and 7, 2018.

Sarasota Opera is pleased to announce the appointment of Lana Mullen as Communications Coordinator. With a lifelong love of opera and classical music, Ms. Mullen is combining her many years of experience in the communication arts and non-profit worlds with the art form she loves so well. The former Art Director of Metropolitan Life Insurance in New York left the corporate world in 2007 to serve in various functions of Disaster Relief for the American Red Cross, deploying to national disasters in addition to supporting the 24/7 disaster relief operations in Greater New York. In 2010, she undertook an eight year assignment managing people-to-people educational and humanitarian programs for Road Scholar in Cuba, where she acquired extensive knowledge about everyday life, the economy, agriculture, arts, education, and healthcare.